Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH20491’

ABSTRACT

A new  petunia  plant particularly distinguished by smaller flower size with a magenta-purple flower color and a mounding/semi-upright plant habit with a medium vigour, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH20491’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH20491’. ‘KLEPH20491’ is a selection from a cross-pollination of the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2014-0777’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2014-0237’ (unpatented).

In July of 2016, the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2014-0777’ and the male petunia line ‘PH-2014-0237’ were cross pollinated in Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2017 in Latina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH20491’. In May 2017, ‘KLEPH20491’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH20491’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Magenta-purple flower color;     -   2. Smaller flower size; and     -   3. Semi-upright plant habit with a medium vigor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph, which shows a side view of the flowering plant. The plant is about four months old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in August 2020. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH20491’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on fourteen-week-old plants grown indoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in May 2021. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.         -   Common name.—Petunia.         -   Variety.—‘KLEPH20491’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2014-0777’.         -   Male.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2014-0237’. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Medium vigor.         -   Habit.—Semi upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—23.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—55.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative by terminal tip cuttings and tissue             culture.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 13 weeks             in winter under short day conditions, about 6 weeks in             spring.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,             white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal).—8.         -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the             tip).—30.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.2 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 144A.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate along the stem and opposite under the             inflorescence.         -   Length.—3.5 cm.         -   Width.—2.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface:             RHS 138B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface:             RHS 146B.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS             146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.35 cm. Color: RHS             144B. Texture: Pubescent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Irregularly oblong.         -   Length.—4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS N79A.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering             during spring and summertime.         -   Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 10             days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 fused petals. Diameter             (flower face): 6.0 cm. Depth (total length of flower):             5.5 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: 2.7 cm. Diameter (at             opening): 1.0 cm. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth. Outer             surface: Pubescent. Color: Inner surface: RHS N187A. Outer             surface: RHS N77A. Petals: Color, mature flower (fully             opened): Upper surface: RHS a bit darker than N74A. Lower             surface: RHS N78B. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Shape:             Salverform. Margin: Entire. Strength of waviness: Weak.             Degree of lobation: Medium.         -   Calyx arrangement.—Whorl of 5 sepals, fused at the base.             Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS             137C. Length: 1.4 cm. Width: 0.25 cm. Shape: Linear. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper             surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144B. Length: 2.2 cm. Diameter:             0.15 cm. Texture: Pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with oblong head.             Filament: Length: 1.4 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS 85B.             Anther: Shape: Oblong. Color: RHS 85A. Length: 0.2 cm.             Diameter: 0.15 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 92A. Amount: Moderate.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2.2 cm. Stigma             color: RHS N189A. Style color: RHS 79B. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH20491’ is a distinct variety of petunia. ‘KLEPH20491’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1 and Table 2:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Female Parental Line Variety Female parent Characteristic ‘KLEPH20491’ ‘PH-2014-0777’ Flower color Magenta purple Light pink

TABLE 2 Comparison with Male Parental Line Variety Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEPH20491’ ‘PH-2014-0237’ Flower size Smaller than the Bigger than male parent KLEPH20491

‘KLEPH20491’ is most similar to the commercial petunia plant named ‘AlpeTunia Dark Purple’ (not patented). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line Variety ‘AlpeTunia Dark Characteristic ‘KLEPH20491’ Purple’ Plant habit and Semi-upright, medium Trailing and vigour vigour vigorous 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named ‘KLEPH20491’ as illustrated and described herein. 